Joel Barlow’s Jack Shaban ran for five touchdowns in the Falcons 62-21 win over Torrington.
Laurie Gaboardi – Register Citizen
TORRINGTON >> Joel Barlow senior quarterback Jack Shaban ran for five touchdowns in a Falcon option flair that would have made Tim Tebow proud, in a 62-21 win at Torrington High School’s Robert H. Frost Sports Complex Friday night.
Shaban (21-for-270 yds) racked up 231 yards in 15 first-half carries for a 34-7 lead at the half.
“He’s a football player,” said Barlow coach Rob Tynan. “He uses every ounce of his body.”
Photos: Joel Barlow at Torrington Football
Shaban is just 5-feet-8, 180 pounds, but speed and great fakes set him off for 51-yard and 80-yard touchdown runs in the first and second periods.
“They run that option very well,” said Torrington coach Gaitan Rodriguez. “With the option, you have to play your opponent with your eyes. We were there physically, but our eyes weren’t.”
Torrington’s bright spots came in the air.
Quarterback Connor Finn and Desmond Langs connected for 201 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons.
Torrington’s Desmond Langs finished the game 10 receptions for 201-yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Laurie Gaboardi – Register Citizen
“We’ve been practicing it all week,” said Finn. “We spotted some things that made us think we could make plays downfield.”
“Connor threw great balls all night,” said Langs. “We’ve got great chemistry.”
Despite the final score, Rodriguez was encouraged.
“I can feel it coming,” he said, looking forward to next Thursday’s game at 3-2 Holy Cross.
Barlow’s Steve Miller started the Falcon scoring with a two-yard run in the first quarter.
Then Shaban took over: a 51-yard run to complete the first-quarter scoring, then his 80-yard dash to start the second, followed by a 10-yard score.
Finn and Langs interrupted for a 25-yard strike in the second quarter.
Shaban threw his only pass of the night — an eight yard score to Dylan Freeman.
The Falcon running game was back in the third: Shaban for eight yards, Miller for 35.
In between the Finn/Langs combination worked a 59-yard ray of sunshine.
Zak Mancini went two yards for another Raider touchdown.
Shaban was back for another seven.
Harry Wilson had the final Barlow touchdown on a two-yard run.
The Falcons, from the SouthWest Conference, are 5-1; Torrington is 0-6.
Joel Barlow 62, Torrington 21
At Torrington High School
Joel Barlow 14 20 14 14—62
Torrington 0 7 14 0—21
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
JB—Steve Miller, 2-yard run; Juan Gomez kick
JB—Jack Shaban, 51-yard run; Gomez kick
Second Quarter
JB—Shaban, 80-yard run; kick failed
JB—Shaban, 10-yard run; Gomez kick
T—Desmond Langs, 25-yard pass from Connor Finn; P.J. Kilmartin kick
JB—Dylan Freeman, 8-yard pass from Shaban; Gomez kick
Third Quarter
JB—Shaban, 8-yard run; Gomez kick
T—Langs, 59-yard pass from Finn; Kilmartin kick
JB—Miller, 35-yard run; Gomez kick
T—Zak Mancini, 2-yard run; Kilmartin kick
Fourth Quarter
JB—Shaban, 7-yard run; Gomez kick
JB—Harry Wilson, 2-yard run; Gomez kick
Individual Statistics
Rushing: JB—Jack Shaban 21-for-270 yds/5 TDs; Harry Wilson 3-for-17 yds/TD; Steve Miller 9-for-76 yds/2 TDs. T—Tyler Marens 8-for-9 yds; Zak Mancini 1-for-2 yds/TD; Nate Bresson 1-for-1 yd.
Passing: JB—Shaban 1-for-1/8 yds/TD. T—Connor Finn 18-for-33/248 yds/2 TDs.
Receiving: JB—Dylan Freeman 1-for-8 yds/TD. T—Desmond Langs 10-for-201 yds/2 TDs; Nate Bresson 6-for-44 yds; Zak Mancini 2-for-3 yds.
Records: Joel Barlow 5-1; Torrington 0-6.
